Hilo Travel Forum

Dear Residents of Hilo and the Big Island,

I desperatley need your help! I am planning a move to Hilo in the next year or two for school. My friends and family all think I'm nuts, but I can't very well study Marine Sciences in Iowa. I have a lot of questions for you and would greatly appretiate any info you would lend me. Is the job market really as tight as everyone says? I'm not looking for anything professional, most of my job history is in the food service industry, although I am currently a bartender. What about the cost of living? Will I be able to work and go to school and still feed myself? I would also appretiate any information about Hilo neighborhoods. It's not that I don't like to have fun, but I am a quiet, serious student and don't want to end up living in a "party zone" packed with freshmen who live off campus. I'm in one now and it just isn't working out.(no offence to any younger students who might be reading this)

Oh, I also hear it rains a lot. What is a lot? Several times a day, all day 4 or 5 times a week, 24-7 all year? Is it heavy rain, light drizzle, outright downpour? I've also heard that Hawaiian residents don't like "mainlanders", or is that a tale to scare me into not moving? I find this hard to believe, I've traveled a lot and have heard the same thing about "Americans" and have never had a bad experience.

I do have more questions, but this is already longer than I intended. Thanks to all who read this and take the time to help me out! -Maggie

I've only visited Hilo so i don't know about the job situation. It seems to drizzle on and off during the day and then the sun shines. This side of the island is a lot more lush because of it. It doesn't seem there would be as many jobs on this side of the island but the people seemed very nice when I was there and people on the big island are generally very laid-back.

Marine Sciences seems a good subject in Hilo. I hear the school is good and the town is nice. It's really "old Hawaii" and lot's of Asian culture. Good shopping. Cost of living is higher than most mainland cities, but you can find plenty of local places to eat at lower prices. Very pretty side of the island. A few resorts on Hilo side, but most are located on the Kona side and so are the jobs. Hawaii is 30 years behind the mainland for many things, but that makes it interesting. I think it's a good area for a serious student.
I'm on Kona side and much less rain here, but not as pretty either. Check out www,westhawaiitoday.com. It links to Hawaii Tribune which is on the Hilo side.

I just noticed you are from Iowa City. I was born in Marshalltown. Small world. Oh...it rains in Hilo, but it's warm.

HAHAHAHA crazy? I've lived in Hilo all 21 years of my life. Hilo isn't the greatest place in the world if you are looking at recreational things. Sure, the tourist love it but they go home and enjoy their lives with their conveniences.

If you are attending the University of Hawaii/Hilo, they have the best Marine Science program in the state and probably in the country. It's located across of my old high school. Hilo is by no means a "party zone" yet we do have one of the highest rates of teen pregnancy lol. The weekend warriors usually hang out at a few clubs in the area on weekends or head over to Kona. R&R is easy to find here and you can lose yourself in the quite at times. Find a nice place to park and relax under the banyan trees.

You can pretty much find anything you need for day to day living but it really lacks in places to do things. It's very very very homey here and everyone's pretty laid back. As far as locals hating mainlanders, sadly its partially true but you'll find that anywhere you go. You won't find a mob of angry locals chasing you out of the state lol. Just to update you on that though... there are seperatist groups gaining national press as of late but not to fear, they'll never succeed. The majority of locals here disapprove of their actions and see them as ignorant and hateful. My perogative... get over it! Whatever happened 100 years ago was for the best. Just remember to stay cool and friendly and you'll get the same in return my friend. Race jokes are pretty big here since we have a huge melting pot. Everyone makes race jokes and really do not get offended if its used in good cheer.

Cost of living is pretty high here as you mentioned. The job market isn't the greatest unless you are comfortable earning beans at the mall, a restaurant, or store. There are probably lots of food service jobs here if you are looking for that. If you want the big money, Kona is the place to work (like me). It will probably not work out for your schedule if you are driving 2 hours each way for work :(. Then again, Kona is extremely hot and expensive. You will not find an appartment under $1200. You can imagine how much a house would cost to rent. Hilo's ok with pricing, find a safe appartment or rent a room in someone's home. There are places that offer female/male only rooms for students like yourself. Or... bring someone with you and rent a house or appartment. My neice has an appartment that goes by income and she pays not more than $250 a month (though shes lying about her/boyfriends income!). Make sure you check the areas these appartments are in as some of them are known druggie hot spots (not that you're going to get gunned down or something, its more so of an annoyance). I suggest Hale Ohana (Family House) which is about a mile from the school. It's mostly elderly people and the appartment rooms are very nice! The complex it self is about 10 years old and is well kept. They all include your own washer/dryer/kitchen.

Rain you ask? It does rain quite a bit here as we're located on the windward (wet) side of the island. I'm not sure how many inches a year but its probably quite a bit. It ranges from a few seconds worth or sprinkles to major down pours. The strange thing is that it can be pouring heavy in the morning and by noon its a clear as blue sky! One thing you will find all year round is that the weather doesn't dramatically change meaning no seasons... that means no snow! The snow is limited to the peaks of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa.

The Big Island (where Hilo is) contains all of the earth's ecosystems in relatively close proximity. This is a good place to learn if you're into biology as you'll find it all here. I hope you do make it over as it will be a great experience. There are many mainlanders who come to school here and many end up wanting to live here, maybe you will too lol. Let me know if you need any more information!

~~ SK

Check out konaweb.com - for google konaweb to find the website. They have a forum for visiting the big island and one for moving. You may find it helpful.

I'm very jealous:-) I would love to move to Hawaii. I keep trying to convince my husband, but so far no good...

If you do move here, move to Honolulu where they have everything known to man lol. If you want a slower pace in a quiet place, move to Hilo or even Kona. A fair warning though, it is not affordable here and can be hard to travel from unless you're going to east Asia. It costs more for me to fly to New York than it would to fly to Japan or China. For the most part, "Aloha State" holds true and everyone is very friendly. If you are considering moving here, explore your options. Try to stay away from the smaller islands which doesn't have much to offer for daily living (Kauai, Lanai, Molokai). Your best bets are Oahu, Maui, or Hawaii Island. I wish you the best :)

This is probably after the fact, but here's my take on Hilo after living there on and off since 1992. Sometimes it rains for weeks. Every day. Other times there are long dry periods. Yes, there is a fair amount of local stink eye and other annoyances from island holigans. I always confronted it head on and dealt w/ it, but it can become tiresome after a while. The job situation is not good, and prime jobs go to Asians ( I mean Hawaiian Asians)or locals. The politics there is very corrupt. Old Boy sort of deal. But that is Hawaii in general, not just Hilo. There is a certain amount of crime and a lot of drug use. Avoid the surfing areas when out on your own, because that is the worst plave to meet local racist holigans. It is really beautiful there, but the vog from the volcano can sometimes sit over the city for weeks and it can burn your eyes and cause all sort of sinus problems in people. There is definately a lack of things to do, but it is getting better. Cost of living has really gone up. No more good rents there unless you are willing to live in a very dicey place. In short, Hilo has become like much of the other islands. A nice place to visit, but you probably do not want to live there. If I sound negative, it is just how it is. Every now and then we think of the water and our old friends over there and consider moving back, but the downsides are far too big. We have found a funky, friendly atmosphere on Galveston island, and it is so much nicer here that we really would never go back. It's a cultural thing. It is no fun living in someone else's culture that is not accepting. Here, WE are the locals! And I can promise all the Hawaiians that if they come to visit us, we will provide them w/ exactly the same hospitality that they showed us in Hawaii.

unfortunately you're right. i was born and raised in hilo and after you get over the novelty of living in hawaii, it becomes a melee when it comes to the job market. i get harassed about wanting to move away by my mainlander friends but they just don't understand the life here is not palm trees and sandy beaches. in fact, if you land at kona or hilo airport for the first time you'll be tragically disappointed lol. many people come with expectations that they will be wisked away by an old man playing an ukulele driving past endless old huts with beautiful women dancing hula all over the place. after leaving the one or two palm trees planted along side kona airport's road, you happen upon lava rock as far as the eyes can see.

on a positive note though, it is one of the safest places in the country to live. you rarely see homeless or blaitant criminal activity. drug use is a big concern here and you'd be surprised to see who's doing it though its not all out in the open. teen pregancy is another problem and no, its not only the ghetto chicks that get pregnant in high school. a couple of girls i knew for years who seemed very bright and intelligent ended up with the bump before graduation...

but hey! if its a vacation you want, this is the place for sure. for the most part it lives up to its hype, just dont believe the steriotypes.

I heard there was quite a bit of racism around.

its not as bad as everyone thinks really... most of it is a social thing. in local culture, race jokes are quite common and is interpreted as very offensive by non locals. it goes back to the sugar cane days when people of other nationalities came here and joked about the other nationals. many jokes were directed towards their white employers in good cheer. in those days, people weren't hung up on being politically correct or hurt by a little humor. although there can be, like everywhere, real racist jerks here. just remember, many of these people think just because they were born here they have priorities over anyone. meaning if they want to cross the street on a busy highway, they'll do it cause they were here first, you wait pshh... but that kind of stuff is rare. if you encounter someone racist you may have provoked them somehow lol. the universal rule when traveling, be kind!

That is a very good point.

like they say, ignorance is bliss... guess i'm not blissful! lol. its not so much your race, its more of your attitude that will tick people here off. yeah i know, a few months too late on the reply hehe.